Gippsland man cleared of responsibility for Aberfeldy bushfire

A Gippsland man has been cleared of any responsibility for a fatal fire at Aberfeldy last year.

Grahame Code, a former school teacher who is now a wedding celebrant, lit a fire on his property on January 17 to burn papers with his son.

The court heard that while Code's fire did not cause the Aberfeldy blaze which killed an 84-year-old man, 200 livestock and destroyed 22 homes, he was complacent on that day.

The magistrate said the fire lit on the property had spread but he was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire had spread to cause extensive damage on that day.

The court heard there was evidence to suggest the fire started elsewhere and other people saw smoke rising from a nearby hill.

When he was first arrested Code, spent three days in custody and his lawyer says he was ostracised by the community and lost the business he had run for 20 years.

During the committal hearing, the prosecution dropped the more serious charge of recklessly causing a bushfire.

While he pleaded guilty to lighting a fire without permission he contested the accusation he had not taken reasonable care.

He was convicted and fined $2,500.

The Aberfeldy blaze burned for two months and destroyed 85,000 hectares of land.

Outside the court, Mr Code's wife Linda said they were pleased with the outcome.

"We feel very vindicated because the fire that was on Grahame's property and on our property did not cause the Aberfeldy fire and we feel very pleased about that, knowing that all along that the fire on our property was not the cause of the Aberfeldy fire," she said.

Mr Code said he was grateful for the support he has received.

"I would like to thank the people of Gippsland who gave us so much support, it meant a great deal."